Nigerians to watch this weekend

GOAL previews the nation’s stars expected to feature for their respective clubs around the world this weekend

Victor Osimhen did not get on the score sheet in midweek but remained top of the scoring log as Napoli recorded a 2-0 win over Empoli. The striker ought to retain his spot against Udinese.

In the Premier League, Joe Aribo is expected to play in some capacity in Nathan Jones’ Southampton bow when the Saints travel to Liverpool hoping for a positive result at Anfield.

The weekend’s round of games in England begins with Frank Onyeka and his Brentford teammates intent on stopping a Manchester City side that are unblemished at the Etihad Stadium in 2022-23.

Frank Onyeka

The midfielder played commendably in Brentford’s 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest last weekend and could return to Thomas Frank’s XI for Saturday lunchtime’s daunting encounter with Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s men are unblemished at the Etihad this term, claiming maximum points from seven games and are favourites for an eighth win against the Bees.

Onyeka and his colleagues are without a win in seven away games in 2022-23, picking up only four points on the road, and that could extend to eight in Manchester this weekend.

Alex Iwobi

Iwobi could have scored and assisted for Everton in last week’s 2-0 defeat by Leicester City, but it was not to be as the Toffees were beaten.

Frank Lampard’s men are at Bournemouth this weekend in the final round of matches before the World Cup, looking to return to winning ways.

They face Dominic Solanke and his colleagues who are reeling from losing two-goal leads in successive game weeks in losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United, with the Cherries setting an unwanted English top-flight record with those defeats.

Will Everton pick up maximum points at the Vitality Stadium?

Joe Aribo

Southampton confirmed Nathan Jones’ role as first-team coach after Ralph Hasenhuttl’s departure early this week and the new Saints boss is set for a baptism of fire at Liverpool.

Joe Aribo is likely to play at Anfield where the south coast outfit hope for a bounce at a ground they have not scored a Premier League goal at since October 2015.

With their last league win on Merseyside coming in 2013, Aribo and his colleagues are underdogs in this one.

Victor Osimhen

Despite Osimhen not adding to his eight Serie A goals in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Empoli, Napoli still opened an eight-point lead at the summit owing to AC Milan dropping points.

The Nigerian ought to play when Luciano Spalletti’s crew welcome Udinese to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium looking to pick up their 11th straight win in the competition.

Udinese’s bright start to the season has dipped since the start of October, with a six-game winless run (five draws) seeing them fall to eighth spot.

Be that as it may, Osimhen and his colleagues will have to be at the required standards to avoid slipping up at the Maradona.

Ademola Lookman

Gian Piero Gasperini’s decision to freshen his side and rest Ademola Lookman at Lecce proved to be the wrong call as Atalanta were beaten 2-1 at Via del Mare, ending their unbeaten away run in 22-23.

The Bergamaschi play host to Inter Milan looking to avoid another big-game loss after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat by Juventus.

Lookman could add to his six league goals against Simone Inzaghi’s men which would see him set a personal best league return.

Terem Moffi

Moffi netted his ninth Ligue 1 goal last time out but it was not enough to secure a point in Lorient’s 2-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.

This weekend’s visit to struggling Strasbourg could see the Nigerian enter double figures in domestic football this term if he finds the back of the net against a side that have picked up one victory all season.

That win was not at Stade de la Meinau, making Lorient, who have the third-best away record in Ligue 1, favourites in their final game before the World Cup finals.